An affordable education that translates to good careers is getting harderto come by, but that’s exactly what students find at Atlanta TechnicalCollege. More than 100 programs are offered, in fields as diverse asbusiness media and information technology, and health and human services,taught in the new Allied Health Building.

The need

Brenda Watts Jones, the late president of Atlanta Technical College, had avision for a cutting-edge center that would prepare Atlanta-area studentsto contribute in significant ways to the healthcare field; Edgar Hillsman,of Hillsman Interior Planning and Design, had a vision for how to designand furnish it. The resulting Brenda Watts Jones Allied Health andTechnology Complex is both impressive to look at and highly functional forteaching and learning.

Administrators at the school knew the building, featuring more than 70,000square feet of space, had to be all about the future: crisp and cleanlines, cutting-edge technology, and all kinds of flexibility to accommodatewhatever’s next. Not only did classrooms need to be designed for a varietyof healthcare studies—from dental hygiene and physical therapy assistantsto technicians in phlebotomy and radiology—but meeting areas, labs,computer centers and instructors’ offices were also a part of the design.

“The cutting-edge facility has set a new standard for the campus, both interms of design and technology,” Hillsman said. “Our expertise is inadvanced technology, so we were sure to leverage that to create an imagethat reflected the college’s mission and spoke to this new paradigm ineducation, which is all about flexibility and collaboration.”

The izzy+ solution

Utilizing mobile classroom furniture was key for Hillsman, because it caneasily be rearranged to accommodate new learning styles and technologies.

“Instructors need to be able to arrange the classrooms as needed, fordifferent uses. Dewey tables on casters are perfect for that flexibility,”Hillsman said. “Dewey flip top tables give you even more options. When youwant to maximize the floor space and change the whole purpose of the room,just nest the tables you don’t need and push them aside.”

“The first year we saw Dewey introduced at NeoCon we immediately loved itsfresh, new look,” Hillsman said. “There’s nothing boring about it, which isreally important in education. When a classroom is engaging and exciting itcan make students more engaged and excited to be there and learn.”

Using Dewey Benches, Lecterns and HelpDesks completed the look in theclassrooms and computer center. “The whole family of products ties it alltogether,” Hillsman said. “If you can find something that accommodatestechnology and has great aesthetics, like Dewey does, you’re all set.”

In offices for professors and administrators, Hillsman chose Audreycasegoods and tables to set the stage, paired with Harter Anthro KBseating. izzy+ rep Nancy Whitaker-Walker said Audrey is perfect for thecontemporary building’s sleek, fresh look, and the line allowed for customorders, such as worksurfaces that “float” above open storage.

“The designer had a very clear vision, and Audrey was flexible enough tomeet all of the needs, even when specials were called for,” Whitaker-Walkersaid. “izzy+ has made it easy for us to take their products to thedesigners because of the great colors and options and finishes which areconsistent across the brands. It’s also easy to do specials and get thecustomizations you need. The end result is just a beautiful installationthat came together so easily.”